US8944476B1 - Latch assemblies and transportation containers using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

A latch assembly includes a closing panel having an end with a closing panel tab extending therefrom. A clasp lever is pivotally attached to the end of closing panel and forms a space into which the closing panel tab extends. Inner peripheral sidewalls of the clasp lever forming the space allow the clasp lever to rotate around outer peripheral sidewalls of the closing panel tab when the clasp lever pivots around the end of the closing panel. An incessant force component is disposed within the space between the closing panel tab and a rear inner sidewall of the clasp lever and biases the clasp lever to a neutral position with respect to the closing panel. A force applied to an outer surface of the clasp lever against the bias causes the clasp lever to pivot around the end of the closing panel from the neutral position.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates in general to transportation containers, and in particular to latch assemblies suitable for use with transportation containers.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Latch assemblies, including those used with transportation containers, are ubiquitous. Nevertheless, new latch assembly designs are always necessary to meet the challenges presented when new types of transportation containers are developed, new operating environments are faced, or both. Among other things, a properly designed and constructed latch assembly must provide for a firm engagement between container components (e.g., the container lid and the base), withstand the stresses of the intended operating environment, and allow for the use of efficient manufacturing processes.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

One embodiment of the principles of the present invention is a latch assembly that includes a closing panel having an end with a closing panel tab extending therefrom. A clasp lever is pivotally attached to the end of closing panel and forms a space into which the closing panel tab extends. Inner peripheral sidewalls of the clasp lever around the periphery of the space allow the clasp lever to rotate past outer peripheral sidewalls of the closing panel tab when the clasp lever pivots around the end of the closing panel. An incessant force component is disposed within the space between a rear sidewall of the closing panel tab and a rear inner sidewall of the clasp lever and biases the clasp lever to a neutral position with respect to the closing panel. A force applied to an outer surface of the clasp lever against the bias causes the clasp lever to pivot around the end of the closing panel from the neutral position.

Latch assemblies according to the inventive principles advantageously require significantly less force to engage and disengage from the associated container, in comparison to traditional one-piece latches, while still providing the required security under a wide range of conditions. Furthermore, the ergonomic design of these latch assemblies allows the user to engage and disengage the latch using natural gestures, which minimizes fatigue and maximizes user comfort.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A is a diagram of a portion of a transportation container with a representative latch assembly embodying the principles of the present invention, with the latch assembly shown in the engaged (latched) configuration;

FIG. 1B is another diagram illustrating the representative latch assembly in the disengaged (unlatched) configuration;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrams providing front and rear exploded views of the latch assembly ofFIGS. 1A and 1B;

FIG. 3A is a diagram providing a cross-sectional view taken alongline3A-3A ofFIG. 1B showing the latch assembly in the disengaged configuration;

FIG. 3B is a diagram providing a cross-sectional view taken alongline3B-3B ofFIG. 1A showing the latch assembly just before or just after the engaged configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The principles of the present invention and their advantages are best understood by referring to the illustrated embodiment depicted inFIGS. 1-3 of the drawings, in which like numbers designate like parts.

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate anexemplary transportation container101 utilizing aspring latch assembly100 according to a preferred embodiment of the present inventive principles.FIG. 1A showslatch assembly100 in the engaged (latched) configuration andFIG. 1B showslatch assembly100 in the disengaged (unlatched) configuration.

As shown inFIGS. 1A and 1B,transportation container101 is a molded plastic container suitable for use as luggage or for transporting tools, musical instruments, or other equipment.Transportation container101 generally includes an upper orlid section102 that pivots with respect to a lower orbase section103 at axis points (not shown) at the opposing side the container. Alternatively,lid section102 andbase section103 are completely separable. The construction oftransportation container101 may change as a matter of design choice. For example,transportation container101 may be constructed of different materials (e.g., metal), or the size, shape, or external appendages may change, depending on the desired aesthetics or intended use.

One end of aclosing panel107 oflatch assembly100 is attached toupper container section102 with a upper fixedpin104 Upper fixed pin provides a fulcrum (axis) point around whichlatch assembly100 pivots. Lower fixedpin105 provides a fulcrum (axis) point around which a clasp lever106 pivots with respect toclosing panel107.

FIG. 2A is an exploded view taken from the front oflatch assembly100, includingclosing panel107 andclasp lever106.Closing panel107, which in the illustrated embodiment is single body of molded plastic, includes a thumb grip surface on atab200, downward (inward) rotational travel-limiting surfaces201, and apivot lock rib202. Anaperture203 receives upperfixed pin105. Alignedapertures204 receive lower fixedpin105.

Clasp lever106, which is also preferably a single, generally V-shaped, body of molded plastic, includesencasement pocket205 extending into the body of a rear portion ofclasp lever106, analignment rod206 encompassed byencasement pocket205 and extending outward from the rear wall of the clasp lever body, a clasp upward (outward) rotational travel-limitingsurface207, clasp downward (inward) rotational travel-limitingsurface208, and four (4) lateral shifting andtravel limiting surfaces209. Alignedapertures210 receive lower fixedpin105.

Anincessant force component211, which is preferably a helical spring, is disposed betweenclosing panel107 andclasp lever106, with the spring longitudinal aperture receiving clasplever alignment rod206.

FIG. 2B is an exploded view taken from the back oflatch assembly100. As shown inFIG. 2B,closing panel107 also includes anencasement pocket212 extending into the body ofclosing panel107, analignment rod213 encompassed byencasement pocket212 and extending outwardly, upward (outward) travel-limitingsurface214, and four (4) lateral shifting travel-limitingsurfaces215.Clasp lever106 further includeslatch hook216 and a ribbedthumb grip surface217.

As shown inFIG. 2A, the front portion of the V-shaped by body ofclasp lever106 defines a space that receivestab200 ofclosing panel107 betweensidewalls220 of clasp lever106 (FIG. 2B).Clasp lever extensions221 are received intoclosing panel receptacles222 defined by corresponding pairs of lateral shifting travel-limiting surfaces215 (FIG. 2B).Apertures204 ofclosing panel107 align withapertures210 onclasp lever106. Lateral shifting andtravel limiting surfaces209 onclasp lever106 are disposed adjacent corresponding lateral shifting travel-limitingsurfaces215 onclosing panel107.

Lower fixedpin105 extends throughaligned apertures204 and210. Thenarrower section218 of lower fixedpin105 allowsclasp lever106 to pivot with respect to closingpanel107 to the extent allowed by rotational travel-limiting surfaces201 (closing panel107),207 (clasp lever106),208 (clasp lever106), and214 (closing panel107). The largerdiameter end section219 of lower fixedpin105 is held tightly within the corresponding aperture of closingpanel107, thereby holdingclasp lever106 and closingpanel107 together.

Whenlatch assembly100 is fully assembled, one open end ofincessant force component211 extends (slides) overalignment rod206 withinencasement pocket205 ofclasp lever106. The other open end ofincessant force component211 extends (slides) overalignment rod213 withinencasement pocket212 of closingpanel107. Generally, the longitudinal axis through the open center ofincessant force component211 aligns with the longitudinal axis ofalignment rods206 and214 in the completed assembly. Thus, whileincessant force component211 is encased within the assemblage of closingpanel107 andclasp lever106, and held in place byalignment rods206 and213, it is not otherwise attached to eitherclosing panel107 orclasp lever106.

In the neutral position, when no force is applied betweentab200 on closingpanel107 andthumb grip surface217 onclasp lever106,incessant force component211 maintains downward (inward) rotational travel-limitingsurfaces201 of closingpanel107 in contact with downward (inward) rotational travel-limitingsurface208 ofclasp lever106. The ribbed upper surface oftab200 of closingpanel200 is generally parallel or slightly above the surrounding surface of theclasp lever106.

When pressure is applied tothumb grip surface217 ofclasp latch106, and the thumb grip oftab200 of closingpanel107, as necessary,incessant force component211 compresses. The force allowsclasp lever106 to pivot around lower fixedpin105 such thatsidewalls220 travel, at least in part, past the sidewalls and upper surface oftab200 on closingpanel107.Hook216 rotates outward with the remainder ofclasp lever106. Outward motion ofclasp lever106 stops when travel-limitingsurface214 on closingpanel107 contacts travel-limitingsurface207 ofclasp lever106.

FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view taken alongline3B-3B ofFIG. 1A showing of a portion oftransportation container101 withlatch assembly100 in the disengaged configuration. In the disengaged configuration,latch assembly100 has pivoted upward around upper fixedpin104 until travel was halted bypivot lock rib202.Incessant force component211 has biased closingpanel107 andclasp lever106 to their neutral position.Container lid102 now freely moves with respect tocontainer base103 and pressure ongasket300 is released.

FIG. 3B is a cross-sectionalview transportation container101 taken alongline3A-3A ofFIG. 1B showinglatch assembly100 just prior to engagement or just after disengagement. As shown inFIG. 3B,latch hook216 is in contact with the outer surface ofcontainer latch hook301 and outside of containerlatch hook depression302.Container element barrier303 is in contact withgasket300, althoughgasket300 is not being fully compressed.

To engagelatch assembly100 withcontainer101, inward pressure is applied to thumb grip surface ontab200 on closingpanel107. Outward pressure is applied tothumb grip surface217 onclasp lever106, against the bias presented byincessant force component211.Latch hook216 rotates outward and downward around lower fixedpin105, such thathook216 is able to clearcontainer latch hook301 as inward force onthumb grip surface200 causes latch assembly100 as a whole to pivot further downward and inward around upper fixedpin104. When the pressure onthumb grip surface217 is released,incessant force component211 causes hook216 to pivot inward and upward into the neutral position and engagecontainer latch hook301 andcontainer latch depression302.

To disengagelatch assembly100 fromcontainer101, outward pressure is applied tothumb grip surface217 onclasp lever106.Latch hook216 rotates outward and downward against the bias presented byincessant force component211, which allowslatch hook216 to clearcontainer latch hook301 as continued outward pressure applied tothumb grip surface217 causes latch assembly100 as a whole to rotate upward and outward around upper fixedpin104.

Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, these descriptions are not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments of the invention, will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to the description of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and the specific embodiment disclosed might be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

It is therefore contemplated that the claims will cover any such modifications or embodiments that fall within the true scope of the invention.

Claims (22)

What is claimed is:

1. A latch assembly comprising:

a closing panel having a body with a longitudinal axis, a lateral axis, an end with a closing panel tab extending therefrom, and a receptacle having sidewalls formed into the end of the body of the closing panel generally parallel to the longitudinal axis and laterally spaced from each other along the lateral axis, the receptacle laterally adjacent the closing panel tab along the lateral axis;

a clasp lever pivotally attached to the end of closing panel by an extension integral with a body of the clasp lever and inserted within the sidewalls of the receptacle of the closing panel, the body of the clasp lever including inner peripheral sidewalls enclosing a space into which the closing panel tab extends, wherein the inner peripheral sidewalls allow the clasp lever to rotate around outer peripheral sidewalls of the closing panel tab when the clasp lever pivots around the end of the closing panel;

a helical spring disposed within the body of the clasp lever spaced between the closing panel tab and a rear inner sidewall of the body of the clasp lever and biasing the clasp lever to a neutral position with respect to the closing panel, wherein a force applied to an outer surface of the clasp lever against the bias of the helical spring causes the clasp lever to pivot around the end of the closing panel from the neutral position;

a first alignment rod extending from an encasement pocket formed into an inner sidewall of the closing panel tab and inserted into a first end of an aperture of the helical spring;

a second alignment rod extending from an encasement pocket formed into the rear inner sidewall of the body of the clasp lever and inserted into a second end of an aperture of the helical spring; and

a pin extending through at least a portion of the body of the closing panel, at least one sidewall of the receptacle, and the clasp lever extension disposed within the receptacle for allowing the clasp lever to rotate around the end of the closing panel.

2. The latch assembly ofclaim 1, wherein the space is open through a front sidewall of the body of the clasp lever thereby allowing access to an outer surface of the closing panel tab.

3. The latch assembly ofclaim 1, wherein the outer surface of the clasp lever includes ribbing.

4. The latch assembly ofclaim 2, wherein the outer surface of the closing panel tab includes ribbing.

5. The latch assembly ofclaim 1, wherein the closing panel is formed as a single body of molded plastic.

6. The latch assembly ofclaim 1, wherein the clasp lever body is formed a single body of molded plastic.

7. The latch assembly ofclaim 1, wherein the body of the clasp lever comprises a front portion and a rear portion spaced at an angle by opposing side portions to define a substantially V-shaped profile of the clasp lever.

8. The latch assembly ofclaim 7, wherein a space is defined through the front portion of the body of the clasp lever to allow access to a surface of the closing panel tab.

9. The latch assembly ofclaim 8, wherein the space defined through the front portion of the body of the clasp lever is substantially rectangular to all access to a substantially rectangular surface of the closing panel tab.

10. The latch assembly ofclaim 7, wherein the extension of the clasp lever is integral with the front portion of the body of the clasp lever.

11. A transportation container comprising:

a lid;

a base;

a latch assembly for selectively latching the lid to the base, comprising:

a closing panel having a longitudinal axis, a lateral axis, a first end pivotally attached to the lid and a second opposing end including an outwardly extending tab and a pair of inwardly extending receptacles, each receptacle having sidewalls formed in an end of a body of the closing panel generally parallel to the longitudinal axis and laterally spaced from each other along the lateral axis, the pair of inwardly extending receptacles laterally spaced along the lateral axis by a base of the outwardly extending tab, a first alignment rod extending from a pocket formed into a rear sidewall of the outwardly extending tab;

a clasp lever comprising:

a pair of spaced apart extensions each received within a corresponding receptacle at the second end of the closing panel for allowing the clasp lever to pivot around the second end of closing panel;

a plurality of inner sidewalls enclosing a space into which the outwardly extending tab of the closing panel extends for allowing the clasp lever to rotate around outer peripheral sidewalls of the outwardly extending tab of the closing panel when the clasp lever pivots around the second end of the closing panel;

a second alignment rod extending from a pocket formed into a rear inner sidewall of the clasp lever; and

an outwardly extending hook for engaging a hook on the container base;

a helical spring disposed within the space and between the rear sidewall of the outwardly extending tab of the closing panel and the rear inner sidewall of the clasp lever for biasing the clasp lever in a neutral position with respect to the closing panel, a first end of a longitudinal space of the helical spring receiving the first alignment rod and a second end of the longitudinal space of the helical spring receiving the second alignment rod; and

a pin extending through a portion of the second end of the closing panel, the sidewalls of each of the pair of inwardly extending receptacles, and the pair of clasp lever extensions within the corresponding receptacles for pivoting the clasp lever from the neutral position in response to a force applied to an outer surface of clasp lever against the bias provided by the helical spring.

12. The transportation container ofclaim 11, wherein the clasp lever includes a front portion having an aperture therethrough allowing access to an outer surface of the outwardly extending tab of the closing panel.

13. The transportation container ofclaim 12, wherein the outer surface of the outwardly extending tab includes ribs.

14. The transportation container ofclaim 11, wherein the outer surface of the clasp lever includes ribs.

15. The transportation container ofclaim 11, wherein the outwardly extending tab comprises an integral body of molded plastic.

16. The transportation container ofclaim 11, wherein the clasp lever is formed as an integral body of molded plastic.

17. The transportation container ofclaim 11, wherein the closing panel is pivotally attached to the lid with a pin.

18. The transportation container ofclaim 11, wherein at least one of the lid and base of the transportation container is formed of molded plastic.

19. The transportation container ofclaim 11, wherein the clasp lever comprises a front portion and a rear portion spaced at an angle by opposing side portions to define a substantially V-shaped profile of the clasp lever.

20. The transportation container ofclaim 19, wherein a space is defined through the front portion of the clasp lever to allow access to a surface of the outwardly extending tab of the closing panel.

21. The latch assembly ofclaim 20, wherein the space defined through the front portion of the clasp lever is substantially rectangular to allow access to a substantially rectangular surface of the outwardly extending tab of the closing panel.

22. The latch assembly ofclaim 19, wherein the pair of clasp lever extensions are integral with the front portion of the clasp lever.

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